INDIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CO-OPERATION WITH UNESCO

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• Establishment :

  • The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a United Nation's agency, working for world peace and international understanding through education, natural and social-sciences, culture and communications. Its Constitution is based on a beautiful thought, which says "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed".

  • Established in November 1945, UNESCO like other agencies of the United Nations system, views the promotion of sustainable human development as a key component of a culture of peace. It is headquartered in Paris, France. 

•  Members :

  • 193 countries are members of UNESCO and six countries are Associate Members.

  • Most members have a National Commission representing their education, scientific, cultural and communication/information communities and providing a focal point for their relations with UNESCO headquarters in Paris and its field offices.

  • Member States assist UNESCO in developing its two-year work programme.

• Governance & Management :

  • The General Conference of UNESCO meets biennially to approve UNESCO's successive programmes and budgets.

  • An Executive Board made up of 58 Member States develops UNESCO's policies and programmes between sessions of the General Conference.

  • India has been a member of the Executive Board of UNESCO since 1946.

  • The Director-General of UNESCO is Koichiro Matsuura, a Japanese career diplomat and the first person from the Asia-Pacific region to hold the position.

India's Participation in General Conference of UNESCO

• The General Conference of UNESCO is held every alternate year to approve inter-alia, UNESCO’s Programme and Budget for the next biennium. India sends a high-powered delegation to the General Conference

Participation in UNESCO’s Executive Board Meetings

• India has the unique privilege of having been continuously elected as Member of Executive Board of UNESCO since 1946. The Board, comprising 58 members, normally meets twice a year for a period of two weeks each. The meetings are held in Paris, France. Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan is our representative on the Executive Board of UNESCO.